The mission of the IHCP is to provide scientific support to the development and implementation of EU polices related to health and consumer protection. The IHCP carries out research to improve the understanding of potential health risks posed by chemical, physical and biological agents from various sources to which consumers are exposed.

　　The Toxicology and Chemical Substances Unit (TCS), commonly known as the European Chemicals Bureau (ECB), provides scientific and technical input and know-how to the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies on dangerous chemicals including the coodination of EU Risk Assessments. The aim of the legislative activity of the ECB is to ensure a high level of protection for workers, consumers and the environment against dangerous chemicals and to ensure the efficient functioning of the internal market on chemicals under the current Community legislation. It plays a major role in the implementation of REACH through development of techncial guidance for industry and new chemcials agency and tools for chemcial dossier registration (IUCLID5). The TCS Unit ensures the development of methodologies and software tools to support a systematic and harmonised assessment of chemicals addressed in a number of European directives and regulation on chemcials. The research and support activities of the TCS are executed in close co-operation with the relevant authorities of the EU MS, Commission services (such as DG Environment and DG Enterprise), the chemical industry, the OECD and other international organisations.

　　European Commission

　　Directorate-General Joint Research Centre

　　Institute of Health and Consumer Protection (IHCP)

　　European Chemicals Bureau (ECB)